In Professional Training, Is A Great Presentation Enough?

When it comes to corporate and industrial training, there's no shortage of enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and experienced speakers willing to share their wisdom. Having an individual like this in the role of educator/trainer is definitely an asset, but with some types of learners, having the right learning platform, in addition to a speaker, can really help to ensure that they get the most out of the experience.

How do you make the most of a charismatic expert speaker when putting together a professional training program? Here are some considerations:

Some participants in a training program may not be auditory learners. Developing multimedia materials to be used while listening can ensure that various types of learners stay engaged.

Some may want or need to go back and review materials after a presentation. Making video footage of a talk can help, especially if it's made available in an annotated version, broken into shorter segments with supplementary, interactive material for each.

Some may need hands-on activities to compliment the presentation. Labs and other activities can be designed to allow learners to apply what was covered in a lecture or presentation.

Some may need to collaborate with other learners in order to fully digest the material covered. Whether in person, or online through social media, learners can benefit from the opportunity to discuss.

Some may need the speaker to be available to consult and collaborate after a presentation. In addition to being available through email, a speaker can also become a participant in online discussions and activities.

An effective learning platform can help to make an incredible speaker part of an immersive learning experience. A speaker can take on the role of facilitator with relative ease, with interactive materials created to support their presentation. They can also bring their learners together, and become a co-participant in discussions and activities, providing just-in-time help as needed. Most importantly, a speaker can assess how their presentation has been received, and what their learners have actually gained from being part of it.